Syrian - Iraqi contacts to contain crisis followed Arab FMs meeting

The Jordanian weekly al-Bilad quoted Arab diplomatic sources as saying that Iraqi-Syrian contacts are being made away from limelight to contain the crisis that followed the meeting of the Arab foreign ministers held in Cairo on January 24.

The sources added that the contacts carried out by high-ranking Syrian officials aim at calming down Iraqi officials concerning decisions adopted by the Arab FMs council which led to creating a crisis in the relations between Baghdad and several Arab capitals.

The paper continued that news reports indicate that Baghdad showed understanding for the Syrian viewpoints and expressed its determination to eliminate political and media escalation, but under the condition that Arab capitals concerned will show clear evidence of their respect for Iraq's sovereignty and agree not to be dragged into acts of hostilities.